Thank you for contacting me regarding the recently release videos depicting senior executives of Planned Parenthood discussing the organization's practice of harvesting and selling the tissue and organs of unborn babies. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views on this matter with me, and while we disagree, I understand your position.

As you know, abortion is one of the most heavily debated social issues and it often invokes strong emotions from its supporter and opponents. I am sure you are also aware that I have long opposed abortion and have consistently voted against federal funding for abortion-rrelated activities. Because of my strong belief in protecting the sanctity of life, I found the videos regarding Planned Parenthood, and the apparent practices being discussed the videos, to be appalling. With this in mind, I recently joined 42 other Senators on a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell questioning the legal, ethical, and policy implications of the footage and calling on the Department to cooperate with future investigations into planned Parenthood practices.

I believe that society has a moral obligation to protect the unborn, and this obligation cannot be considered insignificant or irrelevant. The Supreme Court's ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey did not overturn Roe v. Wade, but it did affirm the right of the individual states to determine whether and how abortion services could be regulated. Therefore, I encourage you to let your state legislators know your thoughts on this issue.

Again,, thank you for sharing your views with me. I hop you will continue to share your thoughts on other issues of mutual concern with me, as I am sure that we will find that we agree on a number of these issues. I look forward to hearing from you again.

Sincerely,

John McCain
United States Senator

JM/eh

My Reply:Aug. 26, 2015Dear Sen. McCain:

The videos have been shown to be doctored. Yet, you won’t admit that you’ve been duped. You continue to reside on the bandwagon of sound bites and deny the truth because it doesn’t suit you. Are you just too old to do your own thinking? 97% of the services Planned Parenthood provides are essential and life-saving services for women of little means. Your position just tells me that you don’t care whether these poor women can access these medical services. And what you don’t understand is that no one WANTS an abortion but that women must have the right to LEGAL services and to make their own decisions about their own medical needs.

You’re an old, White crotchety male who has no right to stick your nose in any decisions women have the right to make. And you’re really wrong and a hypocrite about the so-called "sanctity of life” you profess to protect when you and your Republican gang constantly eradicate safety nets that help children, the poor, the elderly and everyone who is not part of your rich, White corporate world.

You are being led by the nose, you spout the same ideas every other Republican utters, you have nothing to offer, no empathy for the majority of citizens. No, we don’t agree. And I can’t wait for the day you are no longer in the Senate and the harm you and your GOP cohorts perpetrate on us will be, at least, diminished by one.